India Tax

India Tax Latest News And Updates

Income tax return can now be verified electronically

July 15, 2015 10:23 AM

In a move to facilitate taxpayers through e-enabled services, the finance ministry on Tuesday said the income tax return for assessment year 2015-16 can now be verified electronically. "A taxpayer may verify his return through internet banking or through the Aadhar-based authentication process," it said in a statement. "Persons using this facility will not be required to submit a signed paper copy of ITR-Verification form (ITR-V) to CPC Bengaluru," it added. For the convenience of small taxpayers having total income of Rs.500,000 or below without any claim of refund, the facility of generating the electronic verification code (EVC) has also been provided on the e-filing website of the department.
Source: IANS

'Service Charge' in restaurant bills doesn't come to us: Government

July 15, 2015 10:16 AM

Service charges levied on customers by some restaurants do not end up in the government exchequer and are retained by the outlets, the finance ministry clarified on Tuesday. "Some restaurants/hotels/eateries besides charging for the food and beverages are also charging 'service charges' in their bills. The proceeds of the 'service charges' are retained by the restaurants/hotels/eateries," an official statement here said with reference to "misapprehensions" that these are being collected on behalf of the government as tax. The ministry also clarified that the effective service tax rate on serving food or beverage by a restaurant having air-conditioning or central heating is 5.6 percent of the total amount charged. With the increase in the service tax rate to 14 percent from June 1, the tax rate is effectively 5.6 percent of the total amount charged.
Source: IANS

Delhi assembly passes bill to amend VAT act

July 01, 2015 10:54 AM

The bill to amend the VAT law in Delhi, thus enabling the AAP government to regulate tax rates on petroleum products, liquor and aerated drinks, was passed by the assembly on Tuesday, amid a walkout by the opposition BJP. The Delhi Value Added Tax (Second Amendment) Bill was passed as the three BJP lawmakers walked out and Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta tore a copy of the bill. Finance Minister Manish Sisodia however sought to assure that the amendment will not led to increase in prices. The AAP government on Monday introduced an amendment to the Delhi Value Added Tax (Second Amendment) Bill 2015, which might lead to a hike in prices of petroleum products, tobacco and aerated drinks.
Source: IANS

Delhi government introduces amendment to VAT Act

June 30, 2015 12:00 PM

The AAP government on Monday introduced an amendment to the Delhi Value Added Tax (Second Amendment) Bill 2015, which might lead to a hike in prices of petroleum products, tobacco and aerated drinks in the capital. Currently, VAT on goods under the fourth schedule of Value Added Taxes in Delhi is fixed at 20 percent. The proposed amendment will enable the AAP government to impose VAT varying from 12.5 percent to 30 percent. Watches worth above Rs.5,000 will also come under this category. The amendment also aims at facilitating online filing of applications for cancellation of registration.
Source: IANS

India may sign US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act in July

June 27, 2015 10:54 AM

India is likely to sign the US' Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) early next month, a senior official has said. FATCA requires all financial institutions outside of the US to periodically transmit information on financial accounts held by Americans to the US Internal Revenue Service, or face a 30 percent withholding tax on payments made from the US. "The Indian government is likely to sign the Intergovernmental Agreement for Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act in early July 2015," Joint Secretary, Finance, Akhilesh Ranja said at a roundtable here organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said in a statement on Friday.
Source: IANS

About Indian Taxation System

This country has got a well structured and simplified taxation system, wherein an authoritative segregation has been done among the Central Government, the different State Governments as well as the Local Bodies. The Department of Revenue under the
Government of India's Ministry of Finance is solely responsible for the computation of tax. This department levy taxes on individuals or organisations for income, customs duties, service tax and central excise. However, the agriculture based income taxes are levied by the respective State Governments. Local bodies have got the power to compute and levy taxes on properties and other utility services like drainage, water supply and many others. The past 15 years have witnessed tremendous reformations of the taxation system in India. Apart from the rationalization of the rates of tax, simplification of the different laws of taxation has even been done during this period. However, the process of tax rationalization is still in progress in the Republic of India.

Income Tax Slab 2015-16

Individual resident aged below 60 years (i.e. born on or after 1st April 1955) or any NRI/ HUF/ AOP/ BOI/ AJP*

Sno.

Income Slabs

Tax Rates

i.

Where the taxable income does not exceed Rs. 2,50,000/-.

NIL

ii.

Where the taxable income exceeds Rs. 2,50,000/- but does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/-.

10% of amount by which the taxable income exceeds Rs. 2,50,000/-. Less ( in case of Resident Individuals only ) : Tax Credit u/s 87A - 10% of taxable income upto a maximum of Rs. 2000/-.

iii.

Where the taxable income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/- but does not exceed Rs. 10,00,000/-.

Rs. 25,000/- + 20% of the amount by which the taxable income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-.

iv.

Where the taxable income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-.

Rs. 125,000/- + 30% of the amount by which the taxable income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-.

Surcharge:10% of the Income Tax, where taxable income is more than Rs. 1 crore. (Marginal Relief in Surcharge, if applicable)

For the individuals, who are residents of India and of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the previous year,-

S.NO.

Income Slabs

Tax Rates

i.

Where the total income does not exceed Rs. 3,00,000/-.

NIL

ii.

Where the total income exceeds Rs. 3,00,000/- but does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/-

10% of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 3,00,000/

iii.

Where the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/- but does not exceed Rs. 10,00,000/-

Rs. 20,000/- + 20% of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-.

iv.

Where the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-

Rs. 120,000/- + 30% of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-.

For the individuals, who are residents of India and of the age of eighty years or more at anytime during the previous year,-

S.NO.

Income Slabs

Tax Rates

i.

Where the total income does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/-.

NIL

ii.

Where the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/- but does not exceed Rs. 10,00,000/-

20% of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-.

iii.

Where the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-

Rs. 100,000/- + 30% of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-.

Types of Tax in India

There are different kinds of taxes, which are prevalent in the nation. The computation of those taxes varies from one tax to another, depending on the nature of a particular tax. Following are some of the major taxes in India:

Capital Gains Tax

Payable on the capital gains that are received after the asset sales, this tax is a direct tax levied by the Central Government of India.

Corporate Tax

Levied by the India Government, this type of direct tax involves the payment of tax by the companies based within the Indian Republic on their worldwide income.

Service Tax

This tax is computed on some specific services, which are provided in the country. The tax is levied at 10 % rate with an additional education cess at the rate of 2 %.

Custom Duty

Governed as per the Customs Act, 1962 as well as the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, the imported goods in this nation attract basic and additional custom duty.

Excise Duty

According to 1944's Central Excise Act and 1985's Central Excise Tariff Act, this duty is levied on the manufacturing of goods.

Personal Income Tax

This tax in the Indian Republic includes every kind of income, which is computed and levied by the Union Government. The income from agriculture is not levied or collected by the India Government though.

Value Added Tax

Value Added Tax or V. A. T. has been implemented in most of the states in place of the Sales Tax from 1st April, 2005. Such a tax is levied while selling movable goods.

Wealth Tax

Applicable on all the Indian citizens, this tax is levied as per the Wealth Tax Act, 1957.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are many other taxes, names of some of which are as follows. Among them, some taxes are even solely levied by the State Governments or Local Bodies: